How do you make an owl out of a paper plate?

Overview

Making an owl craft out of a paper plate is a fun and easy craft that can be done with minimal supplies. It’s a great craft for preschoolers and elementary aged kids to make for craft time or as a project for a woodland animals or nocturnal animals theme. The basic supplies needed are paper plates, construction paper or felt, glue and markers or crayons. Optional extras include feathers, wiggly eyes and other crafty embellishments. With just a paper plate, some simple cuts, folds and decorations, you can make a cute owl craft in under 30 minutes.

What you’ll need

• Paper plates
• Construction paper or felt in brown, tan, white, black, yellow
• Glue (glue stick or white craft glue)
• Scissors
• Marker, crayons or coloring pencils
• Wiggly eyes (optional)
• Feathers (optional)
• Any other desired decorations – sequins, pom poms, etc. (optional)

Paper plates make the perfect circular shape for an owl’s face and body. Construction paper or felt can be used for features like the eyes, nose and wings. Simple cuts, folds and glue bring the owl craft together. Decorations like marker, crayon, feathers and wiggly eyes can add some personality.

Instructions

Follow these steps to make a simple paper plate owl craft:

1. Take a sturdy paper plate. These crafts will work best with heavier weight plates rather than thin, flimsy plates.
2. Cut the plate in half using scissors. You can have the two halves be even or make one half slightly larger to form the head and body.
3. Take the smaller half if they are uneven sizes. Cut a half circle out of the edge of this piece to make the owl’s head. Discard the half circle piece.
4. Glue the head to the larger bottom half, overlapping the straight edges slightly so the two halves are connected.
5. Cut out ovals from brown construction paper or felt for the owl’s wings. Glue one to each side of the body.
6. For the eyes, cut two circles out of yellow paper. Glue them near the top of the head piece. Add smaller black circles on top for the pupils.
7. Cut a triangle shape for the beak from orange or yellow paper. Glue on just below the eyes.
8. Finish decorating your owl with details like feathers, pom pom cheeks, more colored shapes for feet or whatever you’d like.
9. You can also add wiggly eyes instead of drawing or gluing on eyes.

The basic paper plate owl comes together very quickly. Embellish as little or as much as you’d like. Add feathers, sparkles, pipe cleaner legs – anything to make your owl unique!

Customize It

There are all kinds of ways to customize your paper plate owl craft:

• Size – Use larger or smaller plates to make big or little owls.
• Colors – Vary the colors of construction paper you use for details like the wings, eyes, nose and feet.
• Embellishments – Add wiggly eyes, pom pom cheeks, real feathers, sequins or anything that suits your style.
• Shapes – Cut shapes from felt or construction paper for wings, eyes, belly, etc. Get creative with hearts, stars or scalloped edges instead of just circles and ovals.
• Accessories – Give your owl a hat, bow tie, vest or even a wizard wand. Craft stores offer fun stick on details like these to accessorize creatures.
• Texture – Add textured fabric scraps for the wings, like burlap, felt, faux fur or even real feathers.

Changing up the colors, textures, shapes and decorations can make each paper plate owl completely unique. Let kids get creative and have fun crafting their own customized owls!

Owl Craft Ideas

Making a simple brown paper plate owl is just the beginning. You can create an owl in all kinds of colors, patterns, sizes and styles.

Barn Owl

Barn owls are a beautiful white species of owl with heart shaped faces. Make a white paper plate barn owl by following the basic steps but using all white paper and feathers:

• Start with two white paper plates instead of one white and one brown.
• Cut all the eyes, beak, wings and decorations from white paper or felt instead of orange and brown.
• Glue on white feathers or pom poms instead of brown.

Add silver or black accents for extra elegance.

Snowy Owl

Snowy owls are adapted for cold, Arctic climates. Make a snowy owl paper plate craft with these steps:

• Use all white plates and paper.
• Add extra “down” by fringing the edges of the wings or adding fluffy pom poms.
• Decorate with silver, light blue or mirrored accents.
• Draw or add wiggly eye accents with bright yellow and black.

Your snowy owl will look right at home in a snowy, winter craft scene.

Great Horned Owl

Great horned owls have striking ear tufts or “horns” on top of their heads. Create this look with a paper plate owl by:

• Cutting two triangle ear shapes from brown construction paper.
• Bending them in half lengthwise.
• Gluing them to the top of the owl’s head like horns.

Decorate the rest of the owl to match the traditional great horned owl coloring and patterns.

Burrowing Owl

These tiny owls live underground in abandoned burrows. Make a burrowing owl paper plate craft by:

• Using a smaller paper plate for the head so it looks petite.
• Decorating with sandy brown colors.
• Adding tiny triangle shapes around the eyes to look like feathers around the face.

Your little burrowing owl craft will be adorable.

Stylized Owls

You can make owls with all kinds of creative variations by changing up the colors, patterns and shapes:

• Rainbow owl – Use bright rainbow colors for a fun, lively owl.
• Plaid owl – Decorate with plaid or checkered paper scraps from old shirts or fabric.
• Polka dot owl – Cut dots from colored paper to glue all over in playful polka dots.
• Heart owl – Use heart shapes for the wings, eyes, etc.
• Star owl – Cut star shapes from metallic foiled papers.
• Superhero owl – Add a cape and mask to make a super owl.

You’re only limited by your creativity! Encourage kids to let their imaginations soar.

Owl Kids Crafts

Making paper plate owls is a craft that kids of all ages can enjoy:

Toddlers

For very young kids ages 2-4, choose simple materials and steps they can manage:

• Pick sturdy, heavy plates that are easy for little hands to hold.
• Have pre-cut wings, eyes and shapes ready to glue.
• Use just a few decorations like pom poms or feathers.
• Animal stickers can be fun for toddlers to peel and stick on.

Focus on developing fine motor skills while introducing animal crafts.

Preschoolers

Kids ages 3-5 can take on slightly more with these craft extensions:

• Let them practice using kid safe scissors to cut shapes from paper or felt.
• Introduce sorting colors as they search for the right colored papers to use.
• Glue smaller shapes and embellishments.
• Use crayons, not markers, for them to color details like eyes or wings.

Guide preschoolers through each step but let them do as much as they are able.

Grade School

Older elementary kids ages 6-9 can make more elaborate owl crafts:

• Draw details like feathers or faces instead of just gluing shapes.
• Cut more intricate wing or feet shapes.
• Create patterns by adding sequins, buttons or pom poms.
• Combine multiple crafting techniques like gluing, coloring and sewing.

Owl crafts help build fine motor skills and creativity as kids gain independence.

Paper plate owls make a fun craft for all ages. Adjust the materials and complexity to suit each child’s age and skill level.

Tips for Making Paper Plate Owls

Follow these helpful tips when crafting paper plate owls with kids:

• Pick inexpensive supplies – Paper plates and construction paper are affordable materials that keep costs low.
• Cover work surfaces – Spread newspaper or wax paper to minimize mess from glue and markers.
• Have plenty of glue sticks – They’re easier for kids to use than liquid glue. Stock up so you have extras ready when they run out.
• Use double sided tape for small pieces – It makes gluing on tiny embellishments like sequins or pom poms easier.
• Cut out templates ahead of time – Have eyes, wings and other shapes pre-cut for younger kids.
• Start with whole shapes – Begin by gluing on solid wings and eyes before adding smaller details.
• Demonstrate techniques – Show kids how to curl wings or fold ears before having them try.
• Keep a scrap paper pile – Save paper scraps to use for future crafts instead of throwing them away.
• Let kids plan designs – Get their input on color schemes and embellishments so they take ownership of the activity.

Patience, encouragement and planning make paper plate crafts more enjoyable for kids.

Conclusion

Crafting simple paper plate owls is an easy, fun project for kids of all ages. With just some basic supplies and simple cutting, folding and gluing, you can create owls in all kinds of styles. Customize your owls using different colors, textures, shapes and designs. Paper plates make an inexpensive, readily available crafting material. Adjust the level of detail to suit your child’s age and skill level. Add as many embellishments as you want. Paper plate owls are sure to be a hit at preschool, for scout crafts or as a party activity kids will love. Unleash your creativity and get crafting these cute owls today!